Principles of Genetics and Breeding

14.1.13. Conclusion

Guppies and neon tetra in modern aquarium culture can be considered as domesticated. The zebra fish, which has been developed for research, may be soon a true ‘domesticate’.

Other taxa are exploited captives as hybrids and colour aberrations in unstable breeding systems with a constant addition of wild conspecifics. In other species such as the rainbow trout, or the channel catfish, used in aquaculture for human food, there are separate hatchery strains but no true domesticated forms are known.

The same is true for the other artificially propagated and cultured fishes including the Chinese and Indian carps, grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, catla, rohu, mrigal and calbasu, as well as the salmonids, tilapias, basses, zanders or walleyes (Stizostedion sp.), tench (Tinca tinca), Silurus glanis, walking catfish (Clarias batrachus), or sturgeons. At this time all are exploited captives but have potential to become domesticated in the future.